Modifying device for modulator control



July 1927' J. H. HAMMOND, JR 15635993,

MODIFYING DEVICE FOR MODULATOR CONTROL Filed Avril 2. 1925 2Sheets-Sheet 1 Fig.5

.Z 4 2 L L n [14 INVENTQR ATTO'RNEY 1,635,993 July 1927' J. H. HAMMOND,JR

MODIFYING DEVICE FOR MODULATOR CONTROL 1 Filed Avril 92 2 Sheets-Sheet 2INVENTQR ATTORNEY Patented July 19,1927, v 1 UNITED STATES 1,635,993PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN HAYS HAMMOND, JR., OF GLOUCESTER, MASSACHUSETTS.

MODIFYING DEVICE ron MODULATOR CONTROL.

Y ment.

In accordance with this object there is provided a plurality of meansfor modulatin the sound, with a control device for effecting differentrelative movements of the modulators.

By means of the device of the present invention the volume of soundemitted from the instrument may be very carefully regulated and theinstrument thus caused to produce many novel effects.

The invention has particular adaptability for pianos and thus this typeof instrument may be utilized as one of the instru ments of anorchestra, or for other similar purposes. I

Other objects and features of the invention will appear from thefollowing description taken in connection with the accompanyingdrawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a front elevation partly in section, of an instrumentembodyingthe invention, the section being taken on the line 11 of Figure2. r

Figure 2 is a section taken on the line 22 of Figure 1; and g Figures 3,4 and 5 are enlarged views of the control apparatusof Figure 2, in threedifferent positions respectively.

Like reference characters refer to like parts in the several figures.

In the following description and claims, parts will be identified byspecific names for convenience of expresslon, but they are intended tobe as generic in their application to similar parts or equivalentconstruction as the art will permit.

In the form of the invention. shown in the drawings, the system isapplied to a grand piano 10 which is provided with usual strings 11,mounted in aframe 12. Cooperating with the strings 11 is a piano action13, which is operated in 'any well known manner by depressing the keys14.

The piano 10 is provided with usual pedals 15, 16 and 17 mounted in abase 18 which is suspended from a bracket '20 by ,rods 21 and 22. Thepedals 16 and 17 are operatively connected to rods'23 and 24respectively, which operate the sostenuto and Application filed April 2,1925. Serial No. 20,111.

the loud pedal action of the piano in a well known manner. The pedal 15is operatively connected to the rod 25 the to of which engages one armof a bell-cran 26 which is pivoted at 27 to the bracket 20. The otherend of the bell-crank 26 is connected to a link 28, the other end ofwhich is provided with a pin 30 which operates in a slot 31 providedin amember 32 which is rigidly secured to a shaft 33; mounted in bearings 34and 35 and is provided with a collar 36 which prevents it from slidingthrough the bearings. Rigidly secured to the shaft 33 are'two arms37 and38 to which are pivoted two links 40 and 41 to the other ends of whichare connected two rods 42 and '43. Pivoted to the rods 42 and 43 is aplurality of arms 44 and 45. Each arm is secured to a rotatable element,such as 46 and 47 each of which is mounted for rotation about itslongitudinal axis, and which form collectively means for suppressing toa desired degree, the volume of sound emitted from the instrument.

In order to determine the position of the link 28 with respect to themember 32,

' a bell-crank 50 is provided whichis pivoted at 51 to the frameworkof'thepiano, and is provided at one'endwith two pins 52 and 53, betweenwhich passesthe link 28.- The other end of the bell-crank 50 is providedwith a handle 54 and a clicker 55 which cooperates with a clickersegment 56. Secured to the link 28 is one end of a spring 57 the otherend of which is attached to a bracket 58carried by the framework of thepiano. The casing of the piano and the tone modulators, such as 46, 47,are preferably constructed, at least in part of a sound insulatingmaterial.

In the operation of this form of the invention the mechanism shown inFigs. 1 and 2, is in the open. position with the foot pedal 15 depressedand the modulators 46 and 47 open. If it is desired to decrease thevolume of sound emitted by the piano the pressure on the footpedal 15 isdiminished,

thereby allowing the rod 25 to move downwardly and the bell-crank 26 torotate in a clockwise direction about the pivot 27 under the action ofthe spring 57 which will then move the link 28 to the left. This will'causethe member 32 and the shaft 33 to The shaft 33 is 4 1 to be movedto the right, Which in turn will move the rods 42 and 43 to the right,thus closing the modulators 46 and 47. This will bring the mechanisminto the position shown in Fi 3. It is thus seen that with the bellscran50 in the positionsshown in Figs. 1, 2, and 3, that when the foot pedal15 is depressed, it will cause the modulators to be opened. If it isdesired, however, to have the modulators close when the foot pedal 15,is depressed, the bell-crank 50 is moved into the position shown inFigs. 4 and 5 by moving the handle 54 to the left which rotates, thebell-crank 50 in a counterclockwise direction about the pivot 51. Thiscauses the link 28 to be. moved into the position hP I in Figs. 4 and 5.If it is desired to. close the modulators, the foot pedal 15 isdepressed thereby moving the link 28 to the right as previouslydescribed, which will cause the member 32 to be rotated in acounter-clpckwise direction, thereby moving the 4:0 and 41 to the rightand closing the swell shutters 46 and 47 in a manner already described.It is vthus seen that when the bellecrank 50 is in the positipn shown inFigs. 4 and 5, depressing the foot pedal 15 will cause the swellshutters tolbe. closed.

By positioning thebell-crank 50 in intermediate positions between theextremes shown, it is ossible to open and; close the modulators t e.full amount with a smaller action of the foot pedal as the pin 30 may bemoved nearer the center. of rotation of the member 32, and thus asmaller motion of the foot pedal willproduce the full motion of the arms37 and. 38.

Thus it; will be seen that I havev provided a modulating system. forpianofortes having a tone modulating pedal and meansfor reversing orotherwise modifying the action of the tone modulator with respect to thepedal. By setting the reversing or modifying means in an intermediateposition a smaller degree of movement of the pedal effects a greaterdegree of sound control, and thus a wide variety of musical, effects maybe obtained. By setting the pin 30 at diierent positions in the slot 31movement of the pedal will, produce any desired accentuation orsuppression of the music, and various expressions may be imparted to thetheme, as may be desired.

Furthermore, by reversing the relative movement of the parts, in themanner described, the operation of the pedal can be caused. to producedifferent effects, so that ii the same musical passage is to be layed anumber of times in. succession, texpression can be expeditiouslyaltered. as may be desired, and monotony avoided.

The invention upon which. this applicas tion is based is broader thanthe specific embodiment shown and described for the suppressing means,and a manually 0 purpose of illustrating at least one of the ways inwhich it may be employed. The

the sound emitted from the instrument,

means operatively interconnecting the control device and the tonemodulator, and means for modifying the action of said interconnectingmeans.

2. In a musical. instrument of the poroussive type, the combination witha. control device, of a tone; modulator for variably controlling thesound emitted from the instrument, means operatively interconnectingthe. cont ol device and the tone modulator, and means for reversing theaction. of said interconnecting means.

3. In a musical instrument, the combination of means for reducing thevolume of sound effectively produced by the instrument, a manual controltherefor, means operatively interconnecting, said sound reducing meansand said control arranged so that movement of said controlv in onedirection reduces and in the opposite direction increases the effectivevolume of sound, and a manual device acting on said interconnectingmeans to interchange the direction of Inpvement of said sound reducingmeans zvltlll respect tosa id first named manual con- 4. In a; musicalinstrument, the combinatron of a casing, a source of sound within thecasing, a pluralit of rotatable elements mounted in a wal oi thecasingand arranged in one position to reduce the volume of soundeffectively produced by the instrument, a manual control in continuouscom nection with said elements tor controlling said elements, anda'manual. device to reverse the control of said sound reducing ele mentswith respect to said manual control.

5. In a musical instrument, the combination of means for producingmusical notes, means for. suppressin the music, a pedal for variablycontrolling the suppressing means and a manuall o able device formodifying the control 0 the, suppressing means by the pedal.

6. Ina musical instrument, the combinatron of means for producingmusical notes, means for suppressing the music, a pedal for variablycontrol ing the suppressing means in continuous connection with saidable device for reversingthe control of t e suppressing means by thepedal.

7. In a musical inmrument, a percussive action for producing sound, tonemodulators for regulating the volume of sound emitted, a pedaloperatively connected to and in continuous engagement with said tonemodulators and means to reverse the action of said tone modulators withrespect to said pedal.

8. A musical instrument comprising a substantially sound proof casinghaving oppositely disposed apertures therein, movable closures for saidapertures, means positioned within the casing for producing sound, amanually operable device in continuous ongagement with said closures forcontrolling the closures to regulate the volume of sound emitted, and asecond manually operable device acting on said first named device tomodify the action of said closures with respect to the first-namedmanual device.

9. In a musical instrument comprising a substantially sound proofcasinghaving oppositely disposed apertures therein, movable closures forsaid apertures, means positioned within the casing for producing sound,a manually operable device for controlling the closures to regulate thevolume of sound omitted, and a second manually operable device toreverse the action of said closures with respect to the first namedmanual device.

10. In a musical instrument, a percussive action for producing sound,means for varying the volume of sound emitted from the instrument afterthe action has produced a 7 sound, and two devices for controlling saidmeans, one of said devices controlling the other of said devices.

Signed at New York in the county of New York and State of New York, this1st day of April A. D. 1925.

JOHN HAYS HAMMOND, JR.

